• 10 doctors at Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima from elsewhere
• Existence of medical centre do not serve any purpose without adequate medical personnel
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 20
The Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench, on April 20, has directed the Principal Secretary, Department Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland to submit an “affidavit explaining as to why no medical personnel are posted at some of the medical centers.”
The Bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Nelson Sailo, hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL), further directed the Principal Secretary to explain why medical personnel including doctors are attached elsewhere than their place of posting in the affidavit.
As per an order issued by the Bench on Wednesday, the amicus curiae for the case, Taka Masa has prepared a chart showing the posting and attachment of medical personnel including doctors at CHCs, PHCs and Sub-centres (SCs) in the districts of Peren, Mon, Phek, Longleng and also in Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima, on the Court’s request.
As per the chart, some of the Doctors posted at some Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Public Health Centres (PHCs) are on study-leave or are attached at some other places, the Bench said.
“We also find that some of the medical personnel are also attached somewhere else than the place where they are posted, leaving their place of posting without any replacement,” it observed, adding that some sub-centres were without any medical personnel.
Another “very glaring” observation as per the Bench was the attachment of 10 doctors at the Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima from elsewhere.
Accordingly, stating that existence of CHCs, PHCs and sub-centers do not serve any purpose without any or adequate number of medical personnel, the Bench directed the Principal Secretary to file the affidavit.
“While doing so, he shall also mention as to when the attached medical personnel will be reverted back to their original place of posting,” it said.
Further directing the Principal Secretary to mention the number of doctors posted in the Medical Directorate along with their designations and assignments, the Bench posted the matter again for hearing on May 18.
